YumSugar

Hell's Kitchen - Season 3 Finale Recap

partysugar — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 10:03:51 -0700

Warning: Viewer discretion advised.

And so began the final episode of Hell's Kitchen and the final installment of my weekly recaps. In a somewhat anticlimactic finish, tempers raged, seafood was under/over cooked, tears fell freely, and a winner was selected. Things began where we left them last week with the return of the battle of the sexes. Bonnie is relaxed with her approach to leading the ladies and Rock goes in strong and fierce assigning the boys their stations, explaining the menu, and stating what he needs from each guy. To find out what happened next and who opened the door to their very own restaurant, read more

The finalists and their posses arrive at the kitchen ready to prep and practice the menus. Throughout the day, Bonnie and Rock receive updates on their re-designs of Hell's Kitchen. Bonnie's half is simplistic and classic and reminds Ramsay of a neighborhood hideaway. Rock's half is comfortable and elegant and Ramsay describes it as a homestyle bistro. With an hour till service, the finalists present a tasting of their menus to Chef Ramsay. He approves of the majority of their dishes, but asks both Bonnie and Rock to change up elements of the desserts. After one last pep talk and a present from Ramsay - real master chefs coats, Jean Phillipe opens Hell's Kitchen.

As to be expected, each team stumbles and screws up, yet the excitement that was once there is oddly missing. The boring dinner service drags on with Julia being a bitter loser, Josh unable to cook crab cakes, and Melissa equally unable to cook shrimp and pasta. The girls fail to communicate and quickly run out of both fettuccine and prawns for Bonnie's signature dish. Meanwhile, Rock must adjust for his teammates inadequate culinary skills and nearly fires Josh from the line.

Finally the long dinner service ends with all of the appetizers, entrees, and desserts making it out of the kitchen. Ramsay faces his wannabe restaurateurs questioning what they would have done differently to make the night more successful. Bonnie regrets not checking the quantity of food at her stations and Rock wishes he could have chosen Jen as a member of his team.

Before announcing the winner, Ramsay sends Bonnie and Rock up to the dorms so he can read the feedback and comments from the diners. Upon making his (or was it the producer's or the Green Valley Ranch's?) decision, Ramsay leads Bonnie and Rock to two doorways. Only one will open into the restaurant and whoever stands in front of the unlocked door is the winner. The drumming music quickens, the camera flashes from Ramsay's face to Bonnie's face to Rock's face to a burning fire and back again. Ramsay counts 1, 2, 3 and --- Fox cuts to commercial. The break quickly passes, the dramatic build up is repeated and Rock's door opens! Rock wins, everyone hugs, and even Bonnie, whose positive thinking I admire, and Ramsay sprays champagne all over the contestants. Congratulations Rock! Congratulations PartySugar you can have your Monday nights back!
But wait... no final episode is complete without some fabulous little quotes from our hero Ramsay (who was really nice tonight... perhaps because he knew the end was near?):

No salt and pepper on the tables? You'd like them to think it's well seasoned when it comes!
You run it or it runs you.
Rock I'm not impressed. It's dry on the outside and piss in the middle.
Tough that one. You know what it's like now, standing on the hot plate.
I can see why you're called Rock 'cause you're rock solid.

What did you guys think? Were you happy with Rock being crowned the winner? Could you believe the chef's starting salary is $250,000? Why do you think Julia turned into a total b*tch? How did Bonnie handle her loss? Is Ramsay always in such a bad mood because he has a contract to be on reality tv?

Image Source

Hell's Kitchen - 3.10 Recap

partysugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:28:31 -0700

Last night at nine, I sat down to enjoy the final episode of Hell's Kitchen. Boy was I in for a shock when at ten I realized it was far from over - there is still one episode left! It was much tamer than it normally is with the finalists, Rock and Bonnie, only entering the kitchen for a quick 30 minutes. All of the previous episodes were reviewed, and the last six contestants were brought back to help the finalists in their toughest dinner challenge. To see what happens when Bonnie and Rock design their own restaurants and are whisked off to Vegas for a surprise challenge, read more

After enjoying a few brief moments with their families - Bonnie's parents and Rock's wife and children - the dining room of Hell's Kitchen is loudly cut in half by a hanging partition. Ramsay then tells the finalists they have 36 hours to build their dream restaurant. Bonnie and Rock have full creative liability and must design the dining room and prepare a menu that reflects their signature styles as chefs. They return to the dorms to celebrate and get a start on brainstorming menus and restaurant designs.

The following morning both meet with the architect to discuss their intentions. Bonnie wants a romantic, European, simple, classic-with-a-twist style restaurant. She dislikes the booths and prefers mismatched China. Rock, on the other hand, loves the booths and prefers classic silverware with a warm, American, Southern, black-and-white style dining room.

Next they meet individually with Jean Phillipe, the maitre d', to select the waitstaff's uniforms. Bonnie decides her servers will wear all black and the females should be sexy. Rock is much more hesitant. His first choice of jeans is vetoed by Jean Phillipe, who helps Rock decide on something more appropriate for a fine dining room. Then it's on to the menus: Bonnie is paired with sous chef Mary Anne and quickly describes her menu of mini grilled cheeses, homemade pastas, and all of her personal favorite foods. Rock is paired with sous chef Scott, but his menu is unclear. The only dish he is certain of is a surf n' turf fried chicken and crab cakes.

Ramsay shows up and informs them that they have some very important business to take care of in Las Vegas!! Bonnie and Rock take five minutes to change before they board Ramsay's private jet. On the plane, Ramsay compliments them both and asks questions about their motivations for certain actions. They arrive at the Green Valley Ranch Resort in Vegas, head to an amazing luxurious room, and are shown a teaser for the season finale. Both are a little shocked to see themselves on television for the first time.

Afterwards, Ramsay invites them for a relaxing drink in the VIP lounge of the bar. Little do they know that behind the doors is a stadium full of screaming fans and several of Vegas' top chefs. Guess what? It's surprise challenge time! Rock and Bonnie have 30 minutes to make a dish that represents their signature style. Bonnie makes a shrimp and Fettuccine Alfredo and Rock does the aforementioned fried chicken and crab cakes (was anyone else disappointed by their lack of culinary splendor? Fettuccine Alfredo? Fried Chicken? I can master those dishes!).

Chefs from Caesars Palace, the MGM Grand, and Michael Mina judge the dishes. Then Robin Leach makes a cameo as a celebrity judge and gives his vote to Bonnie. Leaving the previous two winners of Hell's Kitchen to tie the score up - three for Bonnie and three for Rock. The tying vote goes to the manager and current executive chef of the restaurant at the Green Valley Ranch (surprise, surprise, was this a little fixed???). They declare Bonnie the winner and Ramsay whisks both off to the Ghost Bar at the top of the Palms where he gives them one last pep talk.

When they arrive back in LA, Rock and Bonnie receive another surprise when their old crew (Julia, Jen, Brad, Josh, Melissa, and Vinnie) enters the dorm with large gift baskets. Ramsay calls them all down to the kitchen where Bonnie and Rock are instructed to select team members to work in the upcoming night's dinner service. Since Bonnie won the challenge in Vegas, she has first pick and chooses Jen. They alternate turns each selecting another team member. Rock picks Brad and Vinnie and is stuck with Josh. Bonnie selects Melissa and Julia. The episode ends abruptly with clips of the hellish boys vs. girls dinner service that is to come in next week's final showdown.

Ramsay is at his best when he is in the kitchen, so today I have only the top 4 Ramsayisms and a bonus quote from celebrity judge, Mr. Robin Leach (of Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous):

Rock this wouldn't be such an event without your children... it's baby Rock!
You didn't think we would be flying commercial did you?
Stop trying to charm him, he's a chef he doesn't do charm!
Stop trying to manipulate the judges Rock!
And from Robin Leach: I've eaten at over 1700 restaurants around the world and I'm intrigued by the combination in both. But you told me if I didn't have a choice, you would put a cleaver in my back! So I give it to the lady.

Finally didn't you think Bonnie's hair looked a little too perfect after slaving in the kitchen for a half an hour? She must have spent time with a stylist. What do you think Rock and Bonnie make for themselves to eat in the dorm? Didn't you just want to shake Julia and give her a hug? You got the best prize girl, a culinary education and consoling from Ramsay, so be happy!

Image Source

TV Dinners: Hell's Kitchen - Beef Wellington

partysugar — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 11:53:39 -0700

One of the dishes the wannabe chefs on Gordon Ramsay's reality show, Hell's Kitchen, must produce on a regular basis, is beef Wellington. A traditional British dish, a beef Wellington is a perfectly seared piece of beef tenderloin encompassed by a light puffy pastry shell. After watching the chefs repeatedly burn, overcook, undercook, and ruin beef Wellingtons all season, my conclusion is they're not the easiest dish to make. But if you are feeling up to the challenge, and want to give beef Wellingtons a go, you'll find Ramsay's recipe after the break. Oh and if you aren't exactly in a culinary adventurous mood today, you must check out the video demonstration of Ramsay making Wellingtons. Set to music, it's pretty hot! read more

Gordon Ramsay's Beef Wellington
From Food TV Blog
Image Source

400g (3/4-1 pound) Beef fillet
400g ( about 1 pound) Flat mushrooms
4 slices Parma ham
English mustard for brushing meat
200g (or 1 sheet frozen) puff pastry
2 Egg yolks

Pre-heat the oven to 200c/375f.
Heat some oil in a large pan and quickly fry the seasoned beef all over until it’s brown. Remove and allow to cool. The point of this is simply to sear the beef and seal all those juices in, you don’t want to cook the meat at this stage. Allow to cool and brush generously with the mustard.
Roughly chop the mushrooms and blend in a food processor to form a puree. Scrape the mixture into a hot, dry pan and allow the water to evaporate. When sufficiently dry (the mixture should be sticking together easily), set aside and cool.
Roll out a generous length of cling film, lay out the four slices of Parma ham, each one slightly overlapping the last. With a pallet knife spread the mushroom mixture evenly over the ham.
Place the beef fillet in the middle and keeping a tight hold of the cling film from the outside edge, neatly roll the parma ham and mushrooms over the beef into a tight barrel shape. Twist the ends to secure the clingfilm. Refrigerate for 10 -15 minutes, this allows the Wellington to set and helps keep the shape.
Roll out the pastry quite thinly to a size which will cover your beef. Unwrap the meat from the cling film.
Egg wash the edge of the pastry and place the beef in the middle. Roll up the pastry, cut any excess off the ends and fold neatly to the ‘underside’. Turnover and egg wash over the top.
Chill again to let the pastry cool, approximately 5 minutes. Egg wash again before baking at 200c for 35 - 40 minutes. Rest 8 -10 minutes before slicing.

Serves 2.

Print recipe with images | without images

Who Do You Think Should Win Hell's Kitchen?

partysugar — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 08:58:31 -0700

Hell's Kitchen - 3.9 Recap

partysugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 10:59:30 -0700

With the final three contestants left on Hell's Kitchen, last night's episode was by far the most emotional. The chefs proved themselves worthy with a stellar dinner service and seamless teamwork. The tables were turned as Ramsay challenged Bonnie, Jen, and Rock to run the pass (translation: shouting out the orders as they come in, one risotto, two wellingtons, etc). For all this and more - including who paid the cheffies a surprise visit - read more

After last week's double elimination, the final three are tired, overwhelmed, and nervous. Rock apologizes to Jen and they hug out all their differences. The following morning an uncharacteristically cheerful Ramsay (did he seem oddly happy during the entire episode?? Perhaps it's because he knows it's almost over...?) introduces his life long mentor and favorite chef, his mom. Then it's comfort food test time for Bonnie, Rock, and Jen as each randomly choose a classic, all-American dish to recreate. The task is to turn homemade into gourmet. Bonnie selects franks & beans and struggles with the recreation (was that a dumb blonde moment or what when she called frank & beans British???), Jen ends up with fried chicken, and Rock picks spaghetti and meatballs. After the hour of cooking time is up, they are shocked and delighted to see that their mothers will be judging the dishes. The moms don't know whose dish is whose and declare Jen's fried chicken roulade as the winner. She and her mom are taken to a nice little lunch with Ramsay and his mother, while Bonnie and Rock are left to bond and clean the dorms.
Excited and confident, the finalists enter the kitchen the next day ready to face the biggest dinner service of their lives. Ramsay informs that they will each have a chance to control the kitchen as they would in the role of executive chef. During the prep, he calls each finalist over and gives them a little scenario where he is a cook and has messed up. Bonnie yells successfully mimicking Ramsay, Rock lacks true assertiveness, and Jen sounds whiny and annoyingly repeats, "I've been a cook for 15 years," too many times. The service begins on the right foot and food goes out perfectly seasoned and wonderfully cooked.

Ramsay gives the sous chefs permission to screw up the orders by purposely forgetting ingredients or preparing a dish improperly while the finalists have a hand at pretending to be chef. Jen fails the test when she almost sends out crab spaghetti with no crab. She redeems herself when she realizes the risotto is overcooked. Rock notices the monkfish lacks prosciutto but works too slowly. Bonnie incorrectly calls out the dishes at first, but catches her stride after sending back a poorly crisped squab. When the dinner service is over, Ramsay sends the finalists back to the dorms to evaluate their performance. At elimination Bonnie, Jen, and Rock are given a moment to say why they should be in the final two. Ramsay tells Rock he has made it into the last round and sends home Jen. As a reward for making it this far, he grants Bonnie and Rock some time with their families.

Here are my favorite five Ramsay quotes to tide you over until next week's battle between Beauty & the Beast:

Rock, no cursing please - never ever in front of your mom.
Roasted lobster finished with shavings of black truffle with aged Parmesan cheese.
What's more American than a hot dog?
It separates the difference from a cook and a leader. You run the kitchen or the kitchen runs you.
That sounded like a drunk country western singer! You're in love with your golden retriever. I just put it in the microwave and blew it up!

As always, before we part, a few things to ponder: what comfort dishes were under the other two domes? Maybe I've watched far too many reality shows, but wasn't it so obviously that their moms would judge?? Do you think it was really the best dinner service ever or was it the editing???

Image Source

Hell's Kitchen - 3.8 Recap

partysugar — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 11:03:37 -0700

This week we found our favorite chefs of Hell's Kitchen narrowed down to the last five: Bonnie, Jen, Julia, Rock, and Josh. Before things get boiling, Ramsay tells the cheftestants they will no longer be working in separate teams, boys vs. girls. Instead, the five will cook, clean, and cooperate as one big happy family. Bickering and bitching abounds, Ramsay loses it (surprise, surprise), and Bonnie has her best night ever. For all this and more - including what happens when the chefs feed some of L.A's most prominent trendsetters - read more

In the day's first challenge, the final five must feed trendsetters. Blindfolded, they are driven to an off-site location where they will find the, "people with their fingers on the pulse." Although they are expecting celebrities, the chefs find themselves in the middle of a high school cafeteria. Given an hour to prepare a school lunch for 100 high school kids, the chefs - who are working individually against one another - get down to business. Rock makes Kobe beef meatloaf sandwiches, Josh does a baked salmon, Julia whips up grilled cheeses and onion rings, Bonnie tosses a salad with fried goat cheese, and Jen boils up a chicken and pasta dish. The chefs personally serve their lunches and chummily chat up the students. With over 51% of the student votes, the wining prize of a ~~romantic~~ glamourous getaway to Las Vegas with Ramsay, goes to Julia who picks Jen as her escort to Vegas. The gals are whisked off, champagne in hands, to board Ramsay's private jet. The losing three are left to vacuum, clean, and iron the linens of the Hell's Kitchen dining room.

In Vegas, Julia and Jen are given the royal treatment: lux suite, Cristal champagne, spa treatments, and lunch with last season's HK winner Heather West. Back at the chopping block, for the first time in Hell's Kitchen history, the men and the women have to work together. Rock overcooks the scallops and Josh jumps the gun by preparing both risotto and spaghetti before anyone has even ordered it. Julia screws up her garnishes and is overall not on. Several of Josh's risottos get sent back for being undercooked and Ramsay violently kicks Josh out of the kitchen and off the show.

The four are left to finish the service. Julia fumbles, Bonnie takes the lead, Jen perfectly seasons Josh's risottos, and Rock throws an immature temper tantrum when the girls push him into cooperating. After much arguing between Rock (could Rock be any more of a complete jerk???) and Jen, the dinner service is finally over. Bonnie is chosen to select two of her teammates for elimination. She picks Rock (for being such an asshole) and Julia (for falling off her game). Ramsay says it's the hardest decision he has made so far and with a huge hug, asks Julia to hang up her chef's coat. For all of her potential, improvement, and hard work, he awards her a full ride to culinary school along with job placement aid when she graduates - who would have thought Ramsay was such a nice guy???
Oh that Ramsay, isn't he just full of surprises? And insults? Here are my top five Ramsayisms from last night:

Open wide Josh, you do have a talent, you can catch champagne!
Ladies, you didn't think we were going to be traveling commercial, did you?
We've opened, we haven't served anything yet but we've lost money! What a f**king doughnut.
Even my mom cooks spaghetti seven minutes before she wants it... We cook spaghetti to order, even the f**king dirtiest, scummiest Italian restaurant in Venice Beach cooks spaghetti to order!
Oh my god almighty! Come here you, what the fuck are you doing? You stand there and you screw me. You are f**king useless, get out! Get out! *throws spoon at Josh's head*

Finally a few things to think about until we meet Ramsay & Co again: Wasn't it cute how they got so excited about getting new chefs jackets? Wasn't it obvious that Julia was going to win the high school food challenge? I mean kids don't want food their parents will make them! Baked salmon? Chicken & pasta? Hello! Obviously the high schoolers are going to like the onion rings the best, come on!

Image Source

Hell's Kitchen - 3.7 Recap

partysugar — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:11:38 -0700

Forgot to set your Tivo to reality television's most fiery food contest? Have no fear, I watched Hell's Kitchen for you! The battle of the sexes was back as the six cheftestants were tested on their resourcefulness and creativity. Challenged first with leftovers, and later with planning their very own menus, both teams ran into plenty of obstacles. Bonnie bitched, Josh failed, Rock complained, and Julia shone (woo-hoo!). Ramsay yelled, kicked garbage cans, and shot (yes with a real gun!) a contestant (or 2). For all the details and more, read more

The teams are given a tray of leftover ingredients that includes white wine, spaghetti, vegetable stock, beef, and chicken. They have 30 minutes to create 3 dishes. At the silver plated showdown, Bonnie and Brad begin. Chef likes the dishes: a rustic tomato, chicken soup and fancy curried bass with crustacean tomato pasta, respectively, and awards both teams 1 point. Jen's steak and eggs are too simple and Josh's chicken legs are bathed in a highly acidic sauce, so neither get a point. It comes down to Julia and Rock. While Ramsay enjoys Julia's fish & chips he finds it disappointing for the level of competition and awards Rock's surf & turf the winning point.

As their reward, the boys are invited to a paintball fight with Ramsay, 3 against 1. The girls have to clean Hell's Kitchen and unload the deliveries. Later the contestants find out that the dinner service will be the most serious because (for the first time) the teams will create their own menus of 3 appetizers, 3 entrees, and 3 desserts. The diners can choose from either the red or the blue menu. After a lot of grumbling no one is really satisfied with the menus. Ramsay questions Julia's contribution and find out that all of her ideas were overruled by Jen and Bonnie. He pulls another dish and substitutes Julia's strip steak and shrimp.

During the dinner course, 52 red and 48 blue menus are ordered with the majority being Julia's steak. The girl's struggle to make Bonnie's bacon wrapped rabbit (bet you can't say that 5 times fast!), bicker, and lose communication and team spirit. Josh brings the boys down with his total inability to cook lamb, but when Ramsay demands that someone help him, neither Rock or Brad go to Josh's aid. In the end, Ramsay praises Julia for her consistency and asks her to select a girl for elimination. The boys are left to nominate amongst themselves. At elimination Julia nominates Bonnie for her failure to execute (and forgetfulness to turn on the stove!) and Brad martyrs himself. Ramsay asks Brad to leave because when looking for a leader, all Brad was was a cook.

You waited all week for it and it's finally here! My top 5 Ramsayism's from last night's show plus 1 extra that we shall entitle, Words of Wisdom To Live By by Gordon Ramsay:

You're a professional chef? I expect more from you: The chicken's not cooked all the way through, the sauce is disgusting, yeah? And the dish is just crap.
Where's the lamb? How long please? Hey you! Hey donkey one's nicely cooked and one's boiled! Under pressure now and this is where it separates a f**king chef from a donkey! Come here, let me tell you something, let me tell you something in your ear, you can't cook! Thats what's just been confirmed to me! Yah you're coming, so is your f**king elimination!
Hey Josh, I wouldn't trust you with a hot dog stand.
Jen don't stand there looking all sad like a little lonely puppy.
Hey missy turn the f**king gas on... you should be f**king ashamed of yourself!
To be successful as an individual, you have to be successful as a team

Now for some rhetorical questions to get you all thinking: How in the hell did Ramsay beat all 3 boys at paintball? What do you think Bonnie thought when she saw her face being used as a target for paintball practice? Were those really leftovers, or was it raw pieces of meat? Did Ramsay call Josh a doughnut?? What's the deal with the steaming pots on stove at elimination?

And finally, a totally unrelated side note: Ramsay's bad boy persona and hot shot chef are starting to get to me...I think I've developed a school girl crush!

Image Source

Hell's Kitchen - 3.6 Recap

partysugar — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 11:01:38 -0700

Was it just me or was last night's episode of Hell's Kitchen somewhat entertaining? After catching the snooze fest that was the Food Network's shameful Next Star, Hell's Kitchen - with a gentler Ramsay (gentler = he did not break any plates) and glamorous photoshoot - was actually kind of fun. Melissa brought the boys down in battle lobster, Rock threw a temper tantrum, and Bonnie made something that impressed chef Ramsay. For all that and more read more

Following last week's elimination switch up - Melissa was moved to the boys team to prove herself - both sides are thinking positively. In a creative challenge, each team is given one hour to make 3 original lobster dishes. Josh is not allowed to participate because he mis-tasted lobster during the blind tasting. Bonnie turns into a whiny b*tch stating that she hates killing lobster, doesn't want to dip her hand into the tank for the shellfish, and blah, blah, blah. She then shocks everyone - herself included - with a tasty grilled lobster salad. Rock wins the second course with his buttermilk, fried lobster, and it comes down to a tough choice between Jen and Brad's respective lobster bisques. Ramsay declares the girls as winners and they find out that their glamorous prize is to appear with Ramsay in (this week's edition?) InTouch magazine. They are whisked off in a limo, guzzling champagne, while the blue team is left to sort through the trash.
The girls have a fabulous time glamming it up: Bonnie looks gorgeous, Jen looks a little tipsy, and Julia looks out of place (but doesn't she always? that's why I love her!) as they pose Charlie's Angels style - guns replaced by kitchen appliances - with chef Ramsay. Rock's anger builds as he is sent to empty the trash bins at the photoshoot. Luckily he is in a better mood by the time dinner service starts. The girls, perhaps on a high from being in a photoshoot, have an exceptional night with only a few blunders (Bonnie starts a fire, Julia has a breakdown). The boys+Melissa, perhaps still feeling gross from digging thru the trash all day, can't seem to do anything right. Brad ruins the risotto, Melissa fails to realize/admit that she overcooked the monkfish, Josh bumbles around like a clown, and the entire team runs out of mashed potatoes way before the majority of their dinners are sent out, forcing Ramsay to shut them down.

Obvious losers, the blue team is asked to nominate 2 people for elimination. At the chopping block Ramsay calls Melissa forward and sends her home (good riddance crazy!). Next he asks Brad and Josh to step up to the plate leading everyone to believe that he is about to boot another contestant! Instead Ramsay reiterates how crappy they were and tells them politely to get back in line and get the f*ck out of Hell's Kitchen.

And so another episode ends but not without some excellent sayings by the chef we love to hate, Gordon Ramsay:

Jen just watch where you are rolling that pizza cutter.
I call away a spaghetti and get a sea bass, and I get a risotto as a little gift I don't even f**king need.
Everything she touches she screws, yes chef no chef, screw that.
It looks like regurgitated dog food.
Blue team, let's put you out of your misery. You were crap. You got beat by a nanny, a waffle house cook, and a pastry chef.

Does anyone else think that the girls "won" the challenge because the pic for InTouch would look hotter?? I mean chef Ramsay surrounded by a bunch of male chefs...not so hot.

Image Source

Hell's Kitchen - 3.5 Recap

partysugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 11:01:18 -0700

While nobody burned in hell on last night's episode of Hell's Kitchen, there was plenty of the usual mayhem. Dishes were burnt, Gordon was angry, and the Hell's B*tches (the loving nickname to the all-female team) were back in full force. Forgive me if these recaps have started to sound a little like the Hell's Kitchen narrator, but I just can't help it... For the first time in Hell's Kitchen history, the teams cater a wedding as their challenge (hmm... sounds strangely like the first episode of the Next Food Network Star). To see what happened when the contestants created a meal for the most memorable day of one lucky (??) couple's life, read more

The teams are brought by SUV to Bristol Farms where Ramsay informs them that they will be catering a wedding the following day. Each team has $100 and 30 minutes at the grocery store to create a tasting menu of three dishes: an appetizer, a fish, and a meat dish. Back at the kitchen the teams are given an hour to prepare their 3 dishes for the bride and groom, who are coming in to taste and choose the wedding reception menu.

Melissa takes it upon herself to become the leader of the red team. Instead of leading, she rudely bosses the girls around, doesn't allow Bonnie to answer any questions and second guesses Julia's ability to properly cook duck. In the end, she is the one who overcooks the duck and declares it unfit for the bride and groom to taste. The bride and groom prefer the boy's crab appetizer to the girl's dessert-like brie/strawberry/puff pastry dish and the girl's fish over the boy's. Melissa throws a tantrum stating that the girl's duck should not be presented to the bride and groom. Ramsay overrules her and poor Jen is left trying to describe a plain, overcooked duck breast.

The boys win a trip to a day spa while the girls are left to transform Hell's Kitchen into a beautiful wedding. Melissa is super condescending and the girls, myself, and anyone watching begin to despise her. On the day of the wedding, she really screw up by oxidizing and over-cooking potatoes, causing tension between her and Rock and accidentally spilling all of the girl's sabayon into the water bath. Not even Ramsay can take anymore of her behavior, puts her in her place and demands that Jen lead the red team.

The girls are the obvious losers and Ramsay asks Jen to nominate two of her teammates for elimination. She picks Melissa and Bonnie. When Ramsay calls Melissa forward and asks her to remove her chef's coat, he shocks them all by handing her a blue coat and telling her she will be cooking on the boy's team now. Bonnie is sent back to the line as Ramsay leaves us all anticipating what will go down next week, when we once again meet in Hell.

There were tons of good Ramsayisms and here are my top 5:

You're standing there acting like a jumped up little cave woman... now do as you're told.
Bloody well done, you won hands down.
When was the last time you had a massage? Never? Make sure you keep your pants on.
Shut the f**k up for 30 seconds and you might learn something. Now stop being a stubborn little b*tch and move your ass.
Oh piss off you little sabotage.

Usually I think Ramsay is too mean, but his cave woman nickname for Melissa was right on. What is up with her hair? And what on earth is on her chin, does she have a goatee??

Image Source

Hell's Kitchen - 3.4 Recap

partysugar — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 11:01:39 -0700

Last night's episode saw our favorite culinary guinea pigs blind tasting food, getting yelled at (no surprises here), and poorly cooking a dinner service (again, no surprises). The show starts with Jen, last week's almost eliminated female, in tears. She connects with Bonnie who complains about how difficult it is being in Hell's Kitchen. To see what happened when the chefs were challenged to push their palettes to the extreme, and just how angry Ramsay got when too many Wellingtons were under/over cooked, read more

Blindfolded and outfitted with headphones, the chefs must identify different types of food by smell and taste. With varied ingredients like American cheese, plain boiled carrots, venison, and bok choy, the girls come out victorious leading 5-3 after Josh fails to identify any of the ingredients. With one ingredient left - seared tuna - Vinnie and Jen battle as the final pair. Vinnie guesses it's pancetta so the boys lose (how could he mistake tuna for pancetta?!?). As punishment, the boy's are told they must educate their palates and have to eat beef liver, tongue, pig's feet, kidney, etc. They also have to prep both kitchens for the dinner service while the gals are rewarded with a lunch in the dark. During lunch Bonnie actually hits on Ramsay by proclaiming that he has, “the nicest voice in the dark.”

That night, the contestants find out that the customers will decide who goes home. Ramsay explains that in order to be a success, the teams must get the appetizers out quickly. Tension mounts on the girl's side as Julia needs more time to make her scallops when Melissa's risotto is ready for them. Ramsay blames Melissa for not timing it correctly, when in fact it was Julia who burnt the scallops. They finally get the appetizers out and start to crank out the entrees. Both sides struggle with perfecting the Wellingtons - which require a flaky cooked pastry and perfectly well done meat. Ramsay is shocked to find 6 Wellingtons and 1 chicken in Vinnie's trash bin.

Things start to fall apart for the cooks of Hell's Kitchen when a customer (or a really bad actress?) storms into the kitchen to complain about the long wait for her food (if you missed it check out the clip below!). Plates are sent back to the kitchen leaving Ramsay no choice but to throw a tantrum (and several plates) and shut down Hell's Kitchen. Of the customers' reviews, 65% said that they would not come back because the food took too long to get to the table.

Ramsay chooses Rock and Jen to each nominate one team member for elimination. Rock and Jen converse and instead of selecting the obvious weakest links, Rock picks his enemy Josh and Jen, unable to pick her new bff Bonnie, picks Melissa. Ramsay overrules their nominations and calls out the poorest performers: Bonnie and Vinnie. In the end Vinnie is sent home for having already peaked in his performance as a chef.

And now the part you'll all been waiting for: my top 5 Ramsayisms (donkey is totally my new mean vocabulary word!):

Right now I need some team f**king spirit.
You f**king idiot, you stupid cat.
Blue donkeys come here!
What do you think you are the WWF?
I have to really slow it down for you - put it in nannified words for you. Barbie, do your hair before you come over.

Does anybody else feel like things are planted? Who would actually walk into a restaurant's kitchen and demand food? Something smells fishy to me and it wasn't last week's rancid crab....